Before Claudia left for the hospital she found Huck and sent him to wake up Michael and Abby. Abby took up residence in the kitchen. She immediately started looking for supplies to bake but there wasn't much there. She settled for cleaning instead. Michael at the island and watched his phone waiting for news. Finally when it rang and Claudia was able to catch him up on Olivia's condition was he able to exhale. He informed Abby who sagged in relief and sat next to him. Their moment of peace however was short lived when they heard footsteps from upstairs. Soon enough the pitter-patter of tiny feet told them Scarlett was awake.
It was barely five am so they had no idea why she was up and about. Eventually she made it downstairs.
"Where's Livvie?" Michael and Abby exchanged a look not really sure what to say.
"Why don't you go back to bed sweetie?" Abby said gently.
"I want Liv." Her hair was matted down on one side of her head and her pajamas were wrinkled but her face was firm.
"Whatever you need we can get you." Michael told her trying to help.
"All I want is Livvie!"
"Well at least her and her brother have something in common." Abby muttered dejectedly to Michael who smirked a bit. He went over and picked her up.
"Olivia got sick in the middle of the night and Fitz and Claudia had to take her to the hospital. She's having surgery but the doctors are going to take really good care of her and she will be home soon." Michael strove for honesty but it didn't seem to help matters as the little girl burst into tears in his arms.
"Crap." Abby said moving away from the hysterical child unconsciously. Michael tried to calm her down but nothing he said or did seemed to help.
"Go get cam please?" He asked Abby and she immediately took off grateful for something to do. By time they made it back Scarlett was mute and staring off into space. It was a starling sight to see the child who just hours ago was giggling and playing to whatever was happening now.
"Scarlett?" Cammie approached her gently. She didn't respond.
"You want us to take you to see Olivia?" The girl finally looked up but still didn't say anything.
"Abby would you please get her shoes and a coat?" Cammie said taking charge of the situation.
"I don't think taking her to a hospital is a good idea Cam. Fitz wants her to stay here."
"Her mother just died. In a hospital. Surrounded by doctors doing their best. She's scared. She's confused. She wants to see that Olivia is okay. So I'm taking her to Olivia." Cammie stood up to Michael and he just nodded agreeing that given her state a hospital couldn't do any more damage.
Claudia and Fitz sat slumped in uncomfortable chairs in the waiting room. The doctor had warned them that because of how long Olivia had gone before coming to the hospital the surgery might take a while. They didn't talk, as they were both physically and emotionally exhausted.
"Coffee?" Claudia mumbled
"Huh?"
"I need coffee, want some?"
"No I'm just going to stay here until the doctor comes out." Fitz wasn't leaving that room until Olivia was out of surgery. Claudia nodded. Gave his shoulder and squeeze and went off in search of caffeine. While she was off Fitz heard the sound of familiar voices and looked up. He saw Michael holding Scarlett followed by Abby and Cammie.
"She came looking for Liv didn't she?"
"Yeah how'd you know?" Cammie answered Fitz's question.
"She sneaks in and wakes Liv up every morning and sleeps in our bed until we are ready to get up." Fitz said stoking her hair. Scarlett held her arms out to him in response in a gesture that made her seem much younger than her seven years. Fitz immediately took her from Michael and sat down in his chair with her wrapped around him.
"She's going to be okay Scar. She promised to take you swimming and to see Santa and the science museum. You guys have big plans. Liv isn't going to leave us. She loves us way too much."
"I know." She whispered as she set her head down on his shoulder and didn't make another sound. Fitz rubbed her back hoping he could lull her back to sleep. Eventually Claudia came back and tell explained why Scarlett was there. After a comment about that can't be good for their amoral proclivities in the bedroom Claudia shot Fitz a sympathetic look. They sat there making occasional conversation, refusing to give up their vigil until they had news.
Before they got word of Olivia condition Huck and Harrison showed up to join them. Huck didn't say a word but he had a mad look in his eye that they knew wouldn't go away until he saw Olivia. Harrison walked up to Claudia who looked up at him with desperate eyes. She stood up and walked into his open arms.
"Thank you," She whispered to him, "for showing up."
"I'm sorry. I'm an idiot."
"I know you are, sorry that is." She said smirking and giving him her Pope face. It felt odd for them to all be together without Olivia there. They were the only ones in the waiting room so it was oddly quiet especially given the people in the room. Scarlett eventually fell asleep but woke when Fitz shifted to speak to the doctor.
"She made it out of surgery with flying colors. That's one strong stubborn woman you guys have got. She's still in post op so only two of you can go in at a time, although no one would begrudge you two and a half." He nodded in Scarlett's direction. "She's not intubated anymore, but she'll probably sleep on and off for a few more hours before she stays awake. We are going to keep her until at least tomorrow morning to watch for signs of infection, but we believe we got to her in time to have avoided that."
The unspoken decision was made for Fitz and Claudia to go back with Scarlett first. Olivia was not attached to anything that would cause trauma to Scarlett so they decide it would be best for her to see Olivia even if she wouldn't be awake for a while. Fitz immediately went right to her bedside and grabbed her hand. He was still holding Scarlett. She motioned for him to let her down and he did.
She watched Olivia's chest rise and fall for a while, touched her cheek, and silently went to sit in one of the other chairs in the room. Claudia stood at her feet. There were no words exchanged, just relief that the most important person in their lives was going to be okay. After a beat Claudia sat down next to Scarlett, who curled up in her lap and promptly fell asleep. Claudia began dozing as well but Fitz stayed wide-awake and watched Olivia sleep focusing on her even breathes. Unspeakably grateful, Fitz sat waiting patiently as Scarlett slept quietly and Claudia left to go talk to the rest of the family.
"God Livvie you scared the hell out of me you stubborn woman." He told her sleeping form still holding her hand to his face. "The second we get home I'm not letting you out of bed for a week. I love you Livvie, so much." His voice caught a bit as he kissed her hand.
"Luhve yo too." He heard in a rasp and saw her eyes blinking open.
"You're awake, oh thank god." He rested his head on her chest listening to her heartbeat as she stroked his cheek and hair. His breaths came out in rasps while he held on to her.
"I'm sorry, I'm okay bee I'm here." She comforted him allowing him to get it out.
"Don't ever do anything like that again!" He scolded her finally looking up. Her expression of fear and guilt tore at him and he immediately wanted to apologize.
"I won't. I promise." She pulled on his hand and put it on her face so she could nuzzle into it.
"You didn't bring he with us did you?" Olivia asked, not really remembering all the details of the night before.
"No, she came looking for you like she always does and freaked out when they told her where you were. Cammie brought her here so she could see you as soon as you woke up. We didn't know what else to do."
"Wake her, bring her over here." Olivia looked even guiltier then before.
"Let her sleep Liv, she will be fine."
"Please Fitz?" He finally acquiesced and moved to wake Scarlett. He lifted her and brought her with him to the chair Next to Olivia's bed.
"Hey, someone wants to see you, open up." He stroked her back. In the short time Scarlett had been with them they had learned she's a bear to wake up. She sleeps hard and deeply.
"Sweets?" Olivia reached out for her and the little girl jumped back a bit. Shocked, in her mind hospitals were where people went to die. She wasn't aware there was an alternative.
"Livvie?" It was the first thing she had spoken all night. Olivia opened her arms and the girl immediately climbed on the bed and sobbed onto Olivia's shoulder. Olivia held her and stroked her hair as she whispered in her ear like she had done for Fitz earlier. Fitz watched in shock. He knew Scarlett adored Olivia but he hadn't realized how attached she had become. Once Scarlett calmed a bit Fitz excused himself to go tell her family and the nurse that Olivia was awake. The nurse came in and asked Scarlett to hop onto a chair causing a terrified looked to cross her face.
"It's okay sweet girl. I'm here remembering I'm going to stay here. I made you promises and I?"
"Never make promises you don't keep." Scarlett finished her sentence for her and moved back into Fitz chair still watching the nurse like a hawk. Before the nurse could finish Fitz followed by the rest of her family came back into the room with giant grins.
"Oh wow looks like you've got an entire crew here." Fitz picked up Scarlett and took back his chair placing her in his lap.
"All my gladiators." Olivia told the nurse who was a bit confused, but continued her check up, got her Jell-O preferences, Olivia Pope doesn't eat Jell-O, was finally translated into grape, once it was made clear she wouldn't be getting the waffles and popcorn she requested. She headed out the door warning them that the room was a little crowded and reminding them that the patient needs rest.
"I guess we can head back to the house, there's some business I need to handle, that I don't want to do from a hospital." Michael said, Abby unsurprisingly quickly decided she would be going with him, Huck and Harrison would have to leave too, though before they got the chance to Olivia noticed that Harrison was standing right behind the chair that Claudia had occupied, he winked at her.
The night before Olivia had read him the riot act, after he told her that he believed Claudia would cheat on him.
"Does Claudia Marie Pope ever lie, or tell half truths to spare feelings? No. If CeeCee were going to sleep with someone else she would dump your ass, stop returning your calls, or just tell you straight up. Whatever she was doing had nothing to do with you, you idiot!" Olivia yelled at him, after Claudia had gone off with Scarlett. Apparently her dressing down had worked.
"Bee, I think you should take the little bit home too." Olivia saw how exhausted Fitz looked, she was almost positive he hadn't slept the entire night, and a quick look at Claudia confirmed it.
"I wanna stay with you Livvie!" Scarlett immediately argued.
"I know and I want you to hang out with me too, but I need someone to check on Boo and Zorro. You've gotta feed them and take Boo on a walk, Zorro will need cuddles, do you mind doing that for me?"
She nodded smiling that Olivia had given her a mission, Fitz whispered in her ear and she said,
"It's handled." Everyone in the room erupted with laughter.
Cammie and Claudia decided to stay and keep Olivia company even if she was already falling back asleep.
"Bee, please go home and rest and when you come back bring me something comfy to wear, popcorn, and if you bring wine I'll let you feel me up in this bed." Olivia winked and Claudia wolf whistled.
"Fine, but I'm sleeping here tonight."
"Deal." He leaned over to give her a kiss, Claudia whistled again when Fitz's kisses moved to Olivia's neck and she gently pushed him away from her with a laugh.
"Shameless."
"Love you Livvie."
"I love you too, get some sleep, for me?" With a nod and a quick kiss Fitz was out the door to follow everyone else home.